Snake Bites in Children - Some Controversial Problems and the Authors’ Experience

Overview

The authors submit a review of contemporary findings after snake bites (vipers) and present their own experience with the treatment of 11 children aged 6 - 15 years. Eight children were bitten in the finger through their own fault when they tried to catch the snake. Only in three instances a tourniquet was used and no attempt was made to suck the wound, burn out the wound or resect it - which was correct. The course of the snake bite was benign as a rule with a local reaction (swelling with a different centripetal spread), in two instances with a reaction of the regional lymph nodes and in one case with vomiting. While in 1997 - 1999 almost always antiserum was administered already during initial treatment - preventively, in 2000 although the local reactions were more marked, serum was not administered. The mean period of hospitalization was two days. The authors submit suggestions for the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in children after a snake bite. Treatment is local, symptomatic and antiserum should be used only when a small child is bitten at a central site and in intravenous poisoning and in case of serious general and local reactions.

Key words:
snake, viper, snake bite, treatment, children